Fluorescent lights



United States Patent 3,510,645 FLUORESCENT LIGHTS Alvin M. Siegel, Middle Village, N.Y., assignor to American Brightlights Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed July 10, 1967, Ser. No. 652,096 Int. Cl. H05b 33/02 US. Cl. 240-5111 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fluorescent light having a polygonal rather than a rounded cross-section so that there will be an enhanced light radiating surface and a decreased dirt and grime accumulating surface, with the light being cast from a major portion and desirably at least two-thirds of the surface of the reflecting surface area of the fluorescent bulb. The preferred cross section is a triangular crosssection with the sides being of the same length, width and shape and with the one triangular side being horizontal and not in a position to reflect upon the working surface or upon the floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is among the objects of the present invention to devise an enhanced fluorescent light construction in which there will be an improved light output per unit surface with no increase in electric consumption and in which there will be a greatly decreased accumulation of dirt and dust on the elongated bulb.

Another object is to provide a normal fluorescent lighting arrangement in which the lights are of modified shape to give a greatly increased light emitting surface with less spatial interference with greatly increased output for the same size of fixture.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most satisfactory to form the fixture of polygonal and preferably triangular shape with a flat side uppermost and horizontal and with two triangular sides depending downwardly and free of accumulation of dirt and dust and also giving maximum light emission as compared to a round cross-sectional shape. By giving a triangular cross-section, it is possible to achieve maximum light output, as contrasted to cylindrical bulbs, and with an equilateral triangular cross-section apparently 16% greater light emission is obtained from the same size bulb, with the same electric consumption and in the same fixture.

These elongated fluorescent lights may have one or two mounting and conductive pins at the end thereof and, when mounted so that their flat side is uppermost, the dirt and dust can only accumulate on the top face of the triangular bulb and not on the sides thereof, whereas only one-third of the surface will be subject to reduced emission. This is in contrast to cylindrical bulbs, on which one-half the surface may be subjected to decreased emission.

These triangular cross-section bulbs may be mounted together with cylindrical bulbs where they are used for replacement purposes, but it is most desirable to use them in groups, since they will not interfere with each other as will cylindrical bulbs, and a maximum light emission is achieved without substantial interference as occurs with the cylindrical bulbs. Where a two-pin bulb is utilized, the two pins should be parallel to the face which is kept uppermost.

Not only are triangular fluorescent lights more readily handled and more conveniently packaged, but it has been found that the corners act as reenforcing means and strengthen the bulb, particularly in long lengths. Moreover, the triangular bulbs may be readily packed together with the wrappings closely facing each of the triangular sides and with the bulbs being so capable of action together that they take up all empty or free space that will be found between cylindrical bulbs and will fill the interior of the package.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top perspective view showing a typical triangular cross-section bulb of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view showing how the triangular bulbs may be mounted in the lighting fixture.

FIG. 3 shows how these bulbs may be compactly packaged.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic transverse sectional view showing a lighting fixture of the type of FIG. 2, mounted in a recess in the ceiling.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a triangular bulb A having a flat top side B which is subject to collection of dirt and grime, and inwardly inclined side faces C. The ends of the bulb are provided with a the normal electrical connections D and either double pins or single pins E. Where double pins are used, they are parallel to the top face B, although single pins may also be conveniently used.

In the fixture F the plugs G extend downwardly to engage the pins E and the triangular bulbs are positioned in side by side relationship. It will be noted that the bulbs are arranged in side by side relationships so that all of the top surfaces B fall in a common plane and these surfaces may, if desired, be blanked off and provided with internal silvered or reflective faces so as to project the light through the oblique faces C.

The oblique faces C are shown as having an angle of about 60 but they may vary from 30 to 70 F., depending upon the particular shape desired. It has been found that by increasing the thickness of the glass at the upper edges 20 and the lower edge 21 a very strong bulb is obtained, even though it may be in varying lengths. This bulb is much less subject to breakage than the current cylindrical bulb, since any contact will be at the reenforced edges 20 and 21. This shape as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is also more satisfactory in that it may be placed conveniently upon a flat surface without likelihood of rolling off and also may be stood up during handling and installation.

The spacing between the corners 20 and the width of the bulb is desirably between 1 and 1 /2 times the diameter of a corresponding light bulb and the lower oblique faces C give a substantially complete light coverage for the entire lower face of the fixture, as contrasted to the interruptions of a cylindrical bulb which vary over and around the circumference and periphery thereof. By

having the corners closely spaced together, as indicated in the fixture of FIG. 2, the intervening spaces characteristic of cylindrical light bulbs are greatly reduced.

With the packing of FIG. 3 it is found that the bulbs will nest with one another and they may be more conveniently wrapped and inserted into a packaging with assurance of less rattling and with further assurance that there is less likelihood of breakage.

It has been found, even with the same exterior surface and the same electric capacity, that the bulbs of present invention produce between 16 to 33 more light. Furthermore, as is clearly shown in FIG. 2, there will not be any interferences between adjacent bulbs as is true in connection with the light emission characteristic of circular bulbs.

As many changes could be made in the above fluorescent lights, and many widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departure from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter combined in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. A fluorescent lighting fixture consisting of a plurality of elongated triangular cross-section fluorescent tubes arranged in close side by side relationship having flat top faces all in the same horizontal plane atnd downwardly convergent fiat side faces at angles of about to the horizontal, said fluorescent tubes being spaced 1 to 1 /2 times the width of a single tube with the upper corners of said tubes being closely adjacent one another, each of said fluorescent tubes having two connecting pins at the ends thereof arranged parallel and adjacent the top face of each tube, the inside top flat faces of said tubes being internally silvered and reflective.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 753,935 3/1904 Taylor. 3,162,373 12/1964 Biggs et al.

2,284,046 5/1942 Doane 313220 3,281,588 10/1966 'Spinetta 2405l.l1

FOREIGN PATENTS 802,714 6/1936 France.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner R. M. SHEER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 3 l3220 

